Anderson Carvalho is a Brazilian-Dutch choreographer whose life story is defined by resilience, creativity, and the transformative power of art. Born into poverty in a favela of Fortaleza, Brazil, his journey from a street child to an internationally acclaimed artist is central to his work, which frequently explores themes of cultural identity, displacement, and community empowerment.

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Early life in Brazil

 

Growing up in poverty: Carvalho was raised in a favela in Fortaleza and came from a very poor family. His parents divorced early, and his mother had to work to support the family. His older sister raised him and his brother. To help, Carvalho collected garbage to sell and knocked on neighbors' doors to ask for food.

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Discovery of art: Carvalho's first experience with performance was seeing an amateur circus in his neighborhood around age eight. He was captivated by the happiness it brought to his community. He would collect the circus's leftover materials and recreate the performances for his neighbors, often baking treats to give to his audience.

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Introduction to formal training: His life took a decisive turn when he enrolled in drama lessons at school. His drama teacher, Robinson Aragão, encouraged him to question his reality and see art as a tool for change. He later began his formal dance training at EDISCA in Fortaleza.

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International career and founding ACDC

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Carvalho's artistic journey expanded internationally, taking him to multiple continents to train, perform, and collaborate.

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Global education: He moved to Cape Town, South Africa, where he studied dance at the University of Cape Town (UCT). He later earned a Master's degree in Choreography from a joint program at Codarts University of Arts and Fontys University in the Netherlands.

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Creating ACDC: In 2018, he established Anderson Carvalho Dance & Choreography (ACDC), which is now a Foundation for Contemporary Dance in the Netherlands. As a nomadic company, ACDC focuses on bridging cultures through collaborative dance theatre.

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Socially engaged practice: Carvalho developed his "Four Pillars Concept" for ACDC based on his life experiences: Connection, Relation, Creation, and Transformation. He believes art should be an inclusive and transformative process, driven by the need for social change and a deeper understanding of human experience.

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Choreographic approach

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Carvalho's work is not merely entertainment; it is a platform for storytelling and social commentary.

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Collaborative process: He creates a safe environment for his dancers, using their personal stories of vulnerability, cultural identity, and displacement as the starting point for his choreography.

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Multidisciplinary expression: His practice merges contemporary dance with storytelling and somatic inquiry to create works that amplify marginalized voices.

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Notable works and collaborations: His pieces have been presented at international festivals in Ecuador, Poland, and Rwanda. His collaborations include prominent institutions like the Greek National Opera Ballet, Ballet De Barcelona and the Dutch company DOX.

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Continued work in Africa and Europe

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Today, Carvalho divides his time between Amsterdam and Cape Town, continuing his mission of cross-cultural artistic dialogue. 

He remains deeply involved in South Africa's dance community, contributing to social dance projects and curating events like the annual Dance Intersect festival.

His life story, from facing profound hardship to creating a platform for global artistic connection, illustrates his belief that art is a powerful tool for social change.